The 22 most beautiful places in the world

There are so many amazing places around the globe to see, we couldn't possibly include them all in just one list. But, these breathtaking destinations are definitely worth bumping to the top of your travel bucket list – whether you're looking to relax on a beach, get off the grid or explore a city.

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Oia, Santorini, Greece

Berlin Harald Braun

All of the Greek islands are undeniably beautiful, but head to the hillside town of Oia for some of the best views of the bright blue Aegean Sea.

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Japan in cherry-blossom season

While Japan is beautiful year-round, the few weeks each spring when cherry trees across the country explode with blossoms is a particularly pretty time to visit.

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Marrakesh, Morocco

Cultura Travel/Tim E White

Located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh has changed little since the Middle Ages. You could spend days here wandering around maze-like alleyways discovering the city's colourful souks, palaces and gardens.

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Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Matteo Colombo

With turquoise lagoons, coral reefs and overwater bungalows, this small island in the South Pacific is basically heaven on Earth.

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Tamil Nadu, India

Most travellers head to North India for its Mughal palaces and forts, but the Southern state of Tamil Nadu is where most of the country's major Hindu temples are found, including the brightly coloured Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple seen here and the Meenakshi Temple Complex, which is so large it's referred to by some as a mini city.

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Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Chao Photography

If you're looking to get off the grid, head to Chile's Patagonia region for some of the most beautiful mountain views you'll ever see.

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Forbidden City, Beijing, China

Dusko Almosa

Located in the centre of Beijing, the Forbidden City was the imperial palace of China's emperors for five centuries and is one of the most beautifully preserved examples of ancient Chinese architecture.

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Amalfi Coast, Italy

Slow Images

There are so many beautiful places in Italy it's hard to pick just one – but the Amalfi Coast's idyllic hillside towns, including Positano, bump it to the top of our must-see list.

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Krabi, Thailand

Carlina Teteris

Located on southern Thailand's west coast, this province's coastline is dotted with limestone cliffs and hundreds of islands just offshore in the Andaman Sea, making it one of the world's most popular beach-holiday destinations.

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Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Rolf Hicker

Each year starting at the end of November and peaking in beauty in early December, fields of bright-purple Russell Lupins bloom across New Zealand's South Island. One of the most beautiful spots to go Lupin-spotting is in Fiordland National Park, home to the equally gorgeous Milford Sound.

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Bagan, Myanmar

This ancient city in central Myanmar is made up of thousands (yes, thousands) of Buddhist temples and pagodas. One of the prettiest views is from above—we recommend going for a hot-air-balloon ride at sunrise.

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Havasu Falls, Arizona

Before you can swim in these beautiful blue-green waters located near Grand Canyon National Park, you have to hike 10 miles to get there. Trust us, it's totally worth the trek.

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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE

With 82 domes and enough room to accommodate 40,000 worshippers, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is not only one of the largest mosques in the world but also one of the most beautiful, with a marble courtyard featuring mosaics of flowers native to the Middle East.

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Lisbon, Portugal

Situated on a series of hills over the Tagus River, Portugal's scenic capital is brimming with magnificent views, pastel-coloured buildings and charming yellow streetcars.

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Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

While the rest of the world descends upon Rio for the Olympics, head to this remote volcanic archipelago (located about 200 miles off Brazil's coast) that is famous for pristine white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters filled with sea turtles and dolphins.

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St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia

Legend has is that after St Basil's Cathedral was completed in the 16th century, Ivan the Terrible had the architect blinded to prevent him from creating anything as stunning ever again.

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Cape Town, South Africa

It might take nearly a full day of travel to reach Cape Town, but the city's sweeping vistas from Table Mountain and miles of beaches are totally worth the long haul.

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Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Located southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon gets its trademark colour from the silica-rich waters that feed it. And it isn't just pretty — the geothermal water is great for your skin too.

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Sossusvlei, Namibia

Located in Namibia's coastal desert, the remote Sossusvlei region is home to the world's tallest sand dunes, including one that is nearly a quarter-of-a-mile high.

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Paris, France

It's hard not to fall in love with a city like Paris. Every arrondissement is full of postcard-worthy architecture; idyllic city parks seem to outnumber the people; and… even the food is beautiful – macaroons, anyone?

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Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India

While Jaipur is known as the "Pink City" for the trademark colour of its buildings, Hawa Mahal, which translates to Palace of the Winds, is one of the most beautiful examples of the city's rosy-hued architecture.

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New York City, New York

The city so good they named it twice. While New York is undeniably noisy and crowded, don't knock it until you've watched the sunset over the Manhattan skyline – which is just plain beautiful.

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